I've searched this forum and couldn't find a thread, so if I missed it somewhere please excuse my ignorance. What is the reason you run swaybars on your 1/8thscale buggies? I understand why on high grip carpet, but on less traction like slippery off road tracks, I don't see the advantage. I'm fairly new to 1/8th scale, so all help is much appreicated.
Thanks, Rick

Hey Rick,
The use for swaybars on 1/8, as I have always understood it.
Is to help control chassis roll.
If you used your shock springs to completely control chassis roll, your chassis/shocks would be over sprung causing the car to handle horribly.

There are several reasons to run swaybars. One is of course to prevent body roll. Body roll changes camber, reducing grip.

Note also that a soft bar give more traction than a stiff bar. Does the car push? Stiffen the rear bar or soften the front. Is the car "tail happy?" Stiffen the front or soften the rear. It is a way to tune the way the car handles for driver preference. (I've ran a Mugen MBX5 Prospec with NO front bar... it was the only time the car turned satisfactorily... but then it had other problems.)

With no swaybars, the car is more apt to bottom out one side of the suspension over bumps, and "upset" the car. The swaybars help with stability in rough sections.

I've searched this forum and couldn't find a thread, so if I missed it somewhere please excuse my ignorance. What is the reason you run swaybars on your 1/8thscale buggies? I understand why on high grip carpet, but on less traction like slippery off road tracks, I don't see the advantage. I'm fairly new to 1/8th scale, so all help is much appreicated.
Thanks, Rick

Once I think like you..... I didn't use sway bars front and rear.

After thirty laps or so... I feel my car got lousy handling over roots, straight line, exiting corner on power, and even negotiating with wide corners.

So, I decide to put front and rear sway bars to see any difference, and obviously the handling become much better.

So In your case, you are free not to use sway bars, but don't forget to give sway bar a try.